The Bay area offers a host of music venues large and small, most accessible by mass transit. Despite the prevalence of online ticket sales (service fees for which can increase the price as much as 40 percent), most venue box offices offer in-person sales with significantly discounted fees. Why pay the (online) man when you can spend that money on a beer?
:: Berkeley ::
Freight and Salvage
2020 Addison Street (just west of Shattuck)
- Nearest BART station: Downtown Berkeley
- Concessions: Cash only, limited alcohol, but they usually have a small cup of pretzels for just a dollar or two.
Greek Theater: Open-air space on the Cal campus, offering a mix of bench and lawn seating
- Nearest BART station: Downtown Berkeley
- Box office: Open Tuesday through Friday, 12-5:30; Saturday and Sunday, 1-5. Service charge: none that I know of, a typical savings of $10-11
:: Oakland ::
The Fox Theater: Recently redesigned, two-story venue in downtown Oakland. Features a somewhat ornate interior, theater seats on the second floor and standing-room viewing on the ground floor. Multiple bars and a limited selection of food for sale.
1807 Telegraph Avenue (just north of 18th Street)
- Nearest BART station: 19th Street Oakland
- Box office: Open Fridays, 12-7, and show nights, 90 minutes before. Service charge: None.
- Concessions: Alcohol and limited food menu.
Oakland Coliseum
- Nearest BART station: Oakland Coliseum
Yoshi's: The original of the two jazz clubs, in the heart of Jack London Square
510 Embarcadero West
- Nearest BART station: 12th Street Oakland City Center — almost a mile on foot, through blocks that may be somewhat unsafe after dark.
:: San Francisco ::
Bimbo's 365 Club: Relatively intimate concert space in North Beach, with some seating.
1025 Columbus
- Nearest BART station: Embarcadero or Montgomery; both are roughly 1.4 miles on foot, so you may want to catch the 30 bus there.
- Parking: On-street options aren't bad, especially toward the north.
- Box office: Monday through Friday, 10-4. Slight savings over online purchases, but they sell through Ticketfly, which charges a smaller surcharge anyway.
- Concessions: Some shows include a pre-concert dinner option. All alcohol sales during the show are cash-only (ATM on premises, but not a major bank).
Cafe du Nord/Swedish American Music Hall: - Closed for renovation, January 2014. Intimate, hall-like space. Cafe de Nord has more of a bar feel; Swedish American Music Hall, which is directly upstairs from de Nord, is a multi-purpose hall with hardwood floors and no alcohol sales on the premises.
2170 Market St.
- Nearest BART station: Civic Center — more than a mile on foot, but from any of the downtown BART stations, you can easily transfer to one of the outbound MUNI trains; exit at Church St. You can also catch one of the historic F-line street cars that run along Market; catch one going toward the Castro and exit at Sanchez St.
1805 Geary Blvd.
- Nearest BART station: Civic Center — more than a mile on foot, through part of the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco's rougher neighborhoods; driving or taking a bus to/from BART (e.g., 38 Geary) is recommended.
- Box office: Open Sundays, 10-3 and show nights; 30 before until 10 p.m. Service charge: NONE on Sundays, $3/ticket other days -- a typical savings of $7.
- Parking: There are several garages in the area, which can be expensive, but I have have luck on side streets such as Webster.
859 O'Farrell St.
- Nearest BART station: Civic Center, a .6 mile walk to the southeast (shortest route will take you through part of the Tenderloin, which isn't the safest part of town; probably OK to walk as long you're stay and stay alert to your surroundings).
- Parking: Somewhat limited, but you may be able to find a spot on one of the one-way alleys in the area. Chances are probably better if you come a little early and plan to eat in the area before your show.
- Box office: Monday through Friday, 10:30-6; show nights, 60 before until about 10. Service charge: $1/ticket, a $3 savings.
- Concessions: Most shows include a pre-concert dinner option.
628 Divisadero St.
- Nearest BART station: Civic Center, but you'll probably want to bus the 1.4 mile distance between them.
- Parking: Can be challenging, but I've usually found a spot on the street within a few blocks. Usually it works better to come early and eat in the area, or hang out at the coffee shop across the street.
- Box office: Monday through Friday, 11-6; show nights, 60 before until about 9:30. Service charge: NONE for shows there, $1/ticket for shows at other venues booked by Another Planet Entertainment.
- Concessions: Drinks only, as I recall. May be cash only, too.
982 Market Street
- Nearest BART station: Powell Street or Civic Center, depending on which direction you're coming from.
- Box office: Open Sundays, 10-4; show nights, 90 before. Service charge: $2/ticket, a typical savings of $9, vs. online pricing.
Yoshi's: The newer of the two jazz clubs, featuring a sushi-oriented menu.
1330 Fillmore St.
- Nearest BART station: Civic Center — more than a mile on foot, through part of the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco's rougher neighborhoods; driving or taking a bus to/from BART (e.g., 38 Geary) is recommended.
- Parking: There are several garages in the area, which can be expensive, but I have have luck on side streets such as Webster.
- Ticket fees: $4/ticket for open seating; $10/ticket to choose seats in advance; $24/ticket for dinner-and-show option with seat selection ($20 of which is applied as a dinner deposit).
- Concessions: Most shows offer a dinner option. You can also order a selection of food and drinks during concerts.
:: Beyond ::
Mountain Winery (Saratoga)
- Parking: $20/vehicle, cash only. Lot is on the premises, but only accessible via a winding, two-lane road up the hill from Saratoga's down town. Be prepared for a long drive up from the town, if you're running late, and a wait to exit the lot afterward. I believe the winery helps facilitate carpools during the summer carpool season.
Uptown Theater (Napa): A nice, mid-size theater in downtown Napa (seats
- Parking: I've always been able to park on the street for free, within a few blocks.
- Box office: Monday through Friday, 12-5; Saturday, 12-4. Service charge: $5 restoration/facility fee only, a typical savings of $10 or more.
No comments:
Post a Comment